Monash Business School researcher joins national modern slavery advisory body

22 July 2026

A Monash Centre for Financial Studies academic whose research tackles slavery risks in Australian business has been appointed to the federal body advising the government on the nation’s anti-slavery laws.

Modern Slavery Disclosure Research Program lead, Associate Professor Nga Pham, joined the Federal Government’s Modern Slavery Expert Advisory Group on 1 July.

A/Prof Nga Pham has joined the Federal Government’s
Modern Slavery Expert Advisory Group.

The 20-member group brings together experts from business, academia, unions and civil society to provide independent advice on the operation of the Commonwealth’s Modern Slavery Act 2018.

Shining a light on hidden risks

Prof Pham said most people don’t think about modern slavery day-to-day, but few of us are far removed from it.

“Products we consume every day may contain raw materials or components produced through forced labour, the worst forms of child labour, debt bondage or other extreme exploitation,” she said.

“These risks may be hidden several layers down a supply chain, which might make them difficult for both consumers and businesses to see.”

Nor are the risks confined offshore, she said.

“It can occur in Australia, particularly where workers are vulnerable because of insecure employment, migration status, language barriers or dependence on an employer for visa arrangement,” she said.

Closing the gap between leaders and laggards

Australia’s Modern Slavery Act requires large organisations to identify and report on the risks of modern slavery in their operations and the actions they are taking to address them. A/Prof Pham, with her colleagues Dr Bei Cui and A/Prof Ummul Ruthbah, has spent years researching how businesses are responding to those obligations, leading annual assessments of modern slavery disclosures by ASX-listed companies.

While reporting standards have improved significantly, she said progress remains uneven.

“In our latest assessment of ASX100 statements, 65 received an A grade, compared with just three in the first year of reporting,” she said.

“However, we continue to see a substantial gap between the leaders and the laggards.”

Prof Pham said the government had recently proposed important reforms to the Australian Modern Slavery Act that would mean large organisations may face criminal penalties for failure to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains.

“This is a critical time for the advisory group to help shape the design and outcomes of the reforms,” she said.

A/Prof Pham said she hopes the advisory group’s work will help set clearer expectations for business.

“Many companies want to do the right thing, but they are operating under economic pressures, dealing with complex global supply chains and interpreting requirements that do not always clearly define good practice,” she said.

“While disclosure is important, I would like the reforms to move Australia beyond a largely disclosure-based regime towards one that creates meaningful accountability and changes corporate behaviour.”